Liquid clarifier



, July 5, 1932. A, B. @RR 1,865,480

LIQUID CLARIFIER Filed May 27, 1929 lllmaterrted duty 5, f

UNITED STATES ALFRED 2B. ORE, 0F 13ElILlDE'VIl'.ILLEu ILLINOIS LIQUID CLREEE.

Application med May t7,

This invention relates to liquid clarifiers. An object of the invention is to provide an improved device or apparatus for use in clarifying, reconditioning, bleaching and deodorizing cleaning fluids that have been used in dry cleaning plants or elsewhere and which iiuids are charged or entrained withioreign substances, dirt, etc. A. purpose of thus reclaiming the used fluids is to recondition them for further use. By my improved device or apparatus the used cleaning fluids are reconditioned by a washing or cleansing process which consists in passing the used cleaning fluids continuously and upwardly through two or more washes or baths in chambers containing materials or substances for removing the foreign matter, dirt, etc. from the used cleaning iiuid so that by the successive and continuous action of the washes and baths the used cleaning {iuids are reconditioned suitable for further use.

By the specific device or apparatus shown the cleaning fluids are reconditioned in the manner stated by passing the cleaning iluids successively and continuously through two or more baths or washes, the cleaning fluid being passed through as many such baths or washes as may be needed or required to remove the foreign and solid suspended matter, coloring matter, odors, etc., from the cleaning fluid.

@ther objects will appear from the following description reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a device or apparatus embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of said device or apparatus. I

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view approximately on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1."

The device or apparatus shown comprises a vertical cylindrical metallic tank 1 having a downwardly pointed conical bottom 2, a head or top wall 3, and a vertical partition 4 dividing the inside of the tank 1 into compartments 5 and 6. This tank 1s supported by legs 7 having their upper ends riveted or otherwise attached to the wall of the tank. The upper end wall or head Sis formed with i929. erial No. 386,175.

an opening 8 to the compartment 5 and lan opening 9 to the compartment 6 and these openings are hermetically closed by lids 10 detachably secured to the Walls around the openings 8 and 9 by screws 11. These lids 10 u are removable so as to permit access to the insidefof the compartments 5 and 6 for any needed purpose and will also permit insertion of a hose or nozzle to direct'water or the like into the compartments to clean .o them.

A tank 12 is attached to the wall of the tank 1, said wall of the tank 1 forming one wall of the tank 12. The tank 12 is near the top of the tank 1 and is designed and 5 adapted to receive and contain the cleaning substance or solution to be delivered into the compartments 5 and 6 and through which the used cleaning fluids are passed. The tank 12 has an outlet pipe 13 opening through .m its bottom wall, and provided with a branch pipe 14 opening into the compartment 5 and equipped with a valve 15 for regulating and controlling the passage of the cleaning solution from.- the tank 12 into the compartment 75 5. From the pipe 13 a branch pipe 16 opens into the compartment 6 and is equipped with a valve 17 for controlling and regulating the passage of the cleaning solution to said compartment 5. It is now clear that the tank 12 so constitutes a receptacle for receiving the cleaning solution and that the pipes 14 and 16 constitute passages for conducting the cleaning solution to the compartments 5 and 6 respectively. 8;,

A pipe 18 opens downwardly through the top wall or head 3 into the compartment 5. This pipe 18 terminates near the wall of the conical lower end 2 of the compartment 5 and has a strainer or perforated cap 19 on its 90 lower end. An approximately semi-conical baille 2() is attached to the pipe 18 within the compartment 5.

Froml the compartment 5 a withdrawal pipe 21 opens and is' equipped with a con- 95, trolling and regulating valve 22. Above the pipe 21 the compartment 5 has another withdrawal pipe 23 which is equipped with a controlling and regulating valve 24. The pipel23 is for the purpose of withdrawing 10o substance and the pipe 21 is for the purpose of withdrawing the sludge etc. down to the level of said pipe 21. A drain pipe opens from the lower end of the compartment 5 for withdrawing from said compartment all matter and material therein and also for withdrawing any washing or cleaning substance used for washing out the compartn ment 5. rlihe water or other cleaning liquid for washing out the compartment 5 may be delivered into said compartment through the opening 8 or from the tank l2 through the.

pipe 14. The pipe 25 may conduct the waste matter to a sewer or elsewhere. The pipe 25 is equipped with a valve 26 which may be opened and closed as desired.

Through the upper portion of the partition 4 a pipe 27 opens and extends downwardly to near the conical wall 2 of the compartment 6. The lower end of the pipe 25 is equi ped with a st ainer or perforated cap 28. X semiconical aille 29 is. attached to the pipe 27 Within the compartment 6. The compartment 6 has opening therefrom a withdrawal pipe 30 at about the same height and for the same purpose as the pipe 21 and equipped with a valve 31. Above the pipe 3() a pipe 32 opens from the compartment and is equipped with a valve 33. The pipe 32 serves the same purpose for the compartment 6 as the pipe 23 serves for the compartment 5. The lower end of the com artment 6 is equipped witha drain pi e 34 unctioning for the compartment 6 tiie same as the drain pipe 25 functions for the com artment The drain vpipe 34 is equippe with a -alve 35 which may be opened and closed as esired.

From the compartment 6 a pipe 36 leads to any other receptacle or container into which it may be desired to deliver or discharge the reconditioned cleaning Huid.

In use of this device or apparatus the compartments 5 and 6 are filled with a fluid or Substance to about the level shown which is above the lower edges of the baiiles 20 and 29 and above the openings to the pipes 21 and 30. The valves 21, 24, 26, 31, 33 and 35 are closed as are the valves 15 and 17. The fluid that is to be reconditioned for further use as a dry cleaningl lluid is then admitted to the com artment 5 through the pipe 18. The lui passes through the strainer 19 and because the substance that is contained in the compartment 5 is heavier than said duid entering said compartment through the pipe 13 the latter fluid rises and fills the compartment 6 and flows therefrom through the pipe 27. From the pipe 27 the iiuid that is being recon'- ditioned passes through the strainer 28 and rises through the cleaning substance and ills the compartment 6v and tlows outwardly through the pipe 36. Each compartment 5 and 6 1s equipped with an upward y extended Leende@ vent pipe 37 which extends high enough se that none ot the duid will tlow therethrough. Thus, there is continuous dow of the duid that is to he reconditioned through the cleaning substance in the compartments 5 and 6 and thence through the pipe 36. At any time desoired the valves 24 and 33 may he opened to withdraw most of the contents from the compartments 5 and 6 above the level ot the cleaning substances in the lower ends of said compartments. And at any desired time the valves 22 and 31 ma be opened to withdraw most of the 'sludge t at is removed from the circulating Huid..

\ allrom the foregoing it must be apparent.i

that my invention obtains all, of its intended objects in a highly eilicient 'and satisfactory manner. The device or apparatus is compact and comparatively small as to dimensions and may be continuous infoperation. This device dispenses with the use of settling tanks and agitating devices and is otherwise well designed and adapted for its intended purposes.

I am aware that the invention may be widely varied within equivalent limits without departure from the nature vand principle thereof. I do not restrict myself in any unessential res cts, but what I claim and desire to secure y Letters Patent is 1. A device of the character described comprising a tank, a Wall dividing the inside of said tank into two compartments, an addi` tional tank supported by said first tank,pipes for conducting liquid from said additional tank into said two compartments respectively, means for discharging liquid into one of said compartments, means for discharging liquid from said one compartment into said other compartment, and means for conducting the liquid from said other compartment.

2. A cleaning fluid clarifier comprising a main tank having a primary and .a secondary clarifying compartment, a solution tank formed on the outside of the wall of said main tank, an inlet pipe for the dirty fluid leading from outside the main tank to the primary compartment, a pipe leading from the primary compartment to 'the secondary compartment, an outlet leadin from each of said compartments, and a va ve controlled passageway leading from the solution tank to each of said compartments.

3. A cleaning Huid clarifier comprising a main tank having a primary and a secondary clarifying compartment, a solution tank arranged on the outside of the aforesaid tank, an inlet pipe for the dirty tluid leading from outside the mainr` tank to the primary compartment, a pipe leading from the primary compartment to the secondary compartment, 'f'

a llame surroundin each of said pipes for dedecting the 'Hui discharging therefrom toward the walls oit the reslective compartments, a spray head at the 'scharge end of each pipe, an outlet leading from each of the liti ausv

asada-eo said compartments, and a valve controlled passageway leading from the solution tank to each of said compartments.

d. A cleaning fluid clarifier comprising a main tank having a primary and a secondary clarifying compartment adapted to receive a clarifying solution, a solution mixing and measuring tank arranged on the outside of the main tank and having valve controlled passageways leading to said compartments, an inlet pipe for the dirty fluid leading from outside the main tank to the primary compartment, said pipe having a spray head at its lower end for discharging the fluid in jets into the clarifying solution, an inlet pipe for the secondary compartment leading thereto from the upper part of the primary compartment, said last-mentioned vpipe having v a spray head at its lower end for discharging the fluid in jets into the clarifying solution in said compartment, and an outlet leading from each of said compartments.

5. A cleaning fluid clarifier comprising a main tank having a primary and a secondary clarifying compartment adapted to receive a clarifying solution, a solution mixing and measuring tank arranged on the outside of the maintank and having valve controlled passageways leading to said compartments, aninlet pipe for the dirty fluid leading from outside the main tank to the primary compartment, said pipe having a spray head at its lower end for discharging the Huid in jets into the clarifying solution, an inlet pipe for the secondary compartment leading thereto from the upper part of the primary compartment, said last-mentioned pipe having a spray head at its lower end for discharging the fiuid in jets into the clarifying solution in said compartment, a baffle extending downwardly from each of said inlet pipes to a point below the solution level and arranged to deflect the rising fluid outwardly toward the respective walls of the compartments, and an outlet leading from each of said compartments. a

6. A liquid clarifier comprising side, bottomand top walls forming an enclosure, a partition rising from connection with said bottom wall and connected with said side walls and dividing said enclosure into two compartments, a tank adapted to contain a liquid chemical, pipes for conducting the liquid chemical from said tank into each of said compartments, means for spraying into the chemical in one of said compartments the liquid that is to be clarified, baille means in said compartment for dispersing through the liquid chemical the liquid that is to be clarified, means for conducting from said first compartment the liquid to be clarified after the same has passed through said liquid chemical and discharging said liquid to be clarified into the liquid in the other compartment, and means for withdrawing from said other compartment the claried liquid after it has passed through the chemical in said other compartment.

7. A liquid clarifier comprising side, bottom and top walls forming atank, a partitlon Wall connected with said bottom wall and with said side walls and dividing the inside of said tank `into two separate compartments, a tank adapted to contain a chemical solution, pipes for conducting from said second tank into s aid respective compartments selected quantlties of said solution, a pipe extending into one of said compartments and having its lower end below the level of the solution in said compartment for discharging into said solution the liquid to be claried, means supported by said pipe for dispersing said liquid through said solution, a pipe for conducting the liquid from said first compartment into said second compartment and arranged to discharge the liquid below the level of the solution in said second compartment, means for dispersing said liquid through the solution in said second compartment, and means for withdrawing the clarified liquid from Said second compartment.

8. A liquid clarifier comprising a tank having side, bottom and top walls, a partition engaging said bottom and side walls and dividing the inside of said tank into a primary compartment and a secondary compartment, means for maintaining in each of said compartments a predetermined amount of clarifying chemical solution, a pipe extending downwardly into said primary compartment and terminating below the intended top of the clarifying solution therein for discharging liquid into said solution, means supported by said pipe for dispersing the liquid through said solution, a pipe for conducting the partially clarified liquid from said primary compartment into said secondary compartment and extending downwardly and terminating below the intended level of the solution in said secondary compartment for discharg- 1n fregi thereby, means in said seconda compartment for dispersing the liquid t rough said solution, a pipe for withdrawing from said secondary compartment the liquid that is passed through said solution therein, and means for optlonally withdrawing from each of said compartments any liquid therein above the intended level of the clarifying solution.

9. A liquid clarifier comprising a tank having bottom, side and top walls, said bottom wall inclining downwardly and inwardly from its connection with said side wall, a partition in said tank engaging said bottom and side walls and dividing the inside of said tank into separate compartments adapted to contain a clarifying solution to a predetermined level, a tank for containing a clarifying solution, pipes for conducting from said into said solution the liquid to be clari-v lll assesses second tank and discharging into lsaid respective com artments the clarifying saluI tion centaine in said second tank, means ior Y regulating the amount of clarifying solution discharged into said compartments through said pipes, means for dispersing in the clari` fyin solution in one of said compartments the llquid to be clarified, means for conducting from said one compartment and dispers- E@ ing in the clarifying solution in the other compartment the liquid to be claritied, and means for withdrawin rom said second compartment the liqui after it has passed through the solution therein. l 10. A liquid clarifier comprising a tank having bottom, side and top walls, said bottom wall inclining downwardly and inwardly from its connection with said side wall, a partition in said tank engaging said bottom and side walls and dividing the inside of said tank into separate compartments adapted to contain a clarifying solution to a predetermined level, a tank for containing a clarifying solution, pipes for conducting from said second tank and discharging into said respective compartments the clarifying solution contained in said second tank, means for regulating the amount ofclarifying solution discharged into said compartments through said pipes, means for dispersing in the clarifyin solution in one of said compartments the liquid to be clarified, means for conducting from said one compartment and dispersing in the clarifying solution in the other compartment the liquid to be clarified, means for withdrawing from said Second compartment the liquid after it has passed throu h the solution therein, optional means for wit drawing from each of said compartments the liquid or a mixture of the l1 uid and remaining above a predetermined helght, and means for withdrawing from each of said compartments the entire contents thereof.

ALFRED B. ORE.v 45, 

